Cigar Store Indian c. 1938

This watercolor of a cigar store Indian, was created by Rolland Ayres. Note how the artist has meticulously rendered the textures and carved forms of the original sculpture. Cigar store Indians were hand-carved from wood and placed outside tobacconists to attract customers, a potent symbol in early America where most people could not read. The figure embodies the history of craft meeting commerce. The tradition appropriates the image of indigenous peoples, and turns them into marketing devices. The choice of wood matters; its grain and density dictate the carver’s approach. Ayres’s watercolor captures the smooth planes and sharp lines, revealing the carver’s skill in manipulating the material. Notice also the detailed rendering of decorative elements – feathers, clothing, and the cigar box itself – these elements add layers of visual interest. Understanding this artwork involves recognizing the complex interplay of handcraft, cultural representation, and commercial trade, challenging any neat division between art and craft, design and commerce.